Fulton Sun

Firefighters were called to The Ovid Bell Press, 1201 Bluff St., at around 8 a.m. today to put out a fire that started in the northeast section of the building.

Fulton Fire Chief Dean Buffington said when workers at the press turned on the warehouse furnace this morning, oil fumes and dust in the air duct system ignited, causing a fire to erupt inside the ductwork. Buffington said the entire Fulton Fire Department, five fire trucks and about 25 men, responded, containing the fire in about 45 minutes.

Ovid Bell employees were evacuated to a business next door while they awaited word on the condition of the building. The Fulton Police Department had the section of Bluff Street in front of the press closed to traffic for about an hour while firefighters extinguished the flames and used fans to clear the smoke from the building.

Buffington said the extent of the damage caused by the fire is not yet known.